Improvement in means for utilizing the resistance to the forward motion of vessels



J. M. FARMERp Means for Utilizing the Resistance to the Forward Nation of Vessels.

No.i54, 856; Patented Sept.8,ri874.i

WITNESSES. IN'V'SQITDR 42/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JULIUS M. FARMER, OF WAUTONA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JAS. F. WILEY, OF HANCOCK, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR UTILIZING THE RESISTANCE TO THE FOIiiWARD MOTION 0F VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,856, dated September 8, 1874 application filed September 1, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULIUS M. FARMER, of Wautona, in the county of Waushara and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propulsion of Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable-others skilled in the' art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to the propulsion of vessels; and it consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereafter.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

0. represents the hull of a boat, which, instead of being made tapering in the usual manner, is made perfectly straight along its sides and semicircular upon its bottom, as shown. The bow of the boat is made of a conicalform, being constructed in any suitable manner, and of any suitable material, and is so formed as to throw the water outward from the sides of the vessel at or about fortyfive degrees. Extending forward, above and beyond the conical bow of the boat," is a portion of the deck 0, and projecting out from the under side ofthe vessel is an iron brace, 01, the brace and the deck being connected together at a suitable distance from the bow by the sharp-edged bow-stem c, this stem serving both as a journal or bearing for the frontv end of the shaft 9, to out ice in the winter, and to protect the wheel on the bow of the boat. The shaft g extends through the center of the conical bow it, back through the vessel a, to or near its stern, at which point it is provided with a large gear-wheel, i, which meshes with a small pinion, j, placed upon a shaft, l, upon the rear end of which is placed I apropeller-wheel, m.

Should it be so desired, the shaft 9 need only be made long enough to extend through the bow, and the wheeli be placed upon its end, in which case the shaft Z would be made long enough to reach forward to the bow, where the pinion would mesh with the wheel in the'same manner as shown, and thus have the shaft run along the bottom of the boat and economize space.

Secured to the shaft 9, at such a point in front of the bow as to allow the water to escape freely from in between them, is the propeller-wheel n, the surfaces of the blades of which are inclined backward at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and braced by the braces 0, which braces are set at such an angle as to pass through the water with the least resistance. This wheel is intended to be of the same diameter as the boat, and, being placed in front of the bow of the boat, as the boat is propelledforward the action of the water against the wheel causes it to revolve, and this motion being transmitted, through the shaft 9, to the propeller-wheel m, the force of the water against the bow is utilized in operating bilge-pumps, fans for ventilating the hold, or a propeller to assist in driving the vessel forward.

In the boat will be placed the usual machinery for propelling it forward, which will 1 be geared to the usual wheels 12, which may be arranged one on each side of. the propeller m, or in any other relative positions.

This invention is equally applicable to sailing-vessels.

In general, the wheel m will be made about one-third the size of the wheel a, and so geared as to run with much greater rapidity in order to have its due effect upon the rapidly-moving water at the stern. The wheel at, having its blades turned back at an angle of about forty-five degrees, receives the full pressure of the water, which would otherwise come upon the bow, and, yielding to this pressure, it gives the water a'whirling or twisting motion, and throws it back on a line with the surface of the bow, and thus leaves the bow nearly free from pressure.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The hull a, provided with a conical bow, deck 0, brace d, bow-stem e, shaft 9, wheels m a, and suitable connectinggears, substantially as specified, whereby the forward motion of the vessel through the water is made to operate machinery, for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have'hereunto set my hand this 1st day of September, 1874. V

JULIUS M. FARMER. Witnesses:

FRANK GLAUDY, F. A. LEHMANN. 

